Africans Nominated for Leadership Post

African countries submitted four nominees for the top U.N. post after African leaders ended a summit without agreeing on a candidate to succeed Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Envoys said the nominees are: U.N. Undersecretary-General Kofi Annan of Ghana, former Niger Prime Minister Hamid Algabid, Ivory Coast Foreign Minister Amara Essy and former U.N. special envoy Ahmedou Ould Abdallah of Mauritania. Security Council members met to discuss the candidates, and U.N. officials said other names are expected to be submitted next week. The United States vetoed Boutros-Ghali for reelection Nov. 19, claiming he was sluggish in pursuing U.N. reform. The Organization of African Unity argued that an African deserves two terms under U.N. tradition. Boutros-Ghali announced Wednesday that he remains a candidate but was stepping aside temporarily to allow other Africans to enter.